Automatic stop for phonographs



H. F. SPENGLER AUTOMATIC STOP FOR PHONOGRAPHS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 10. 1924.

H. F. SPENGLER AUTOMATIC STOP FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed March 10 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patente ct. M, 192%.

HUGO I SPENGLELR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC STOP FOR PHO'NOGRAPHS.

Application filed March 10, 1924. Serial No. 698,079.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l", HUGO F. SPENGLER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in thecounty of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use-fill Improvements in Automatic Stops for Phonogra-phs; and I do hereby declare that the following a fail, clear, and exact description thereoh -eierenee being had to th accempanying' drawings and tothe letters of reference marked thereon, which form a patter thieepeeifieatien.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic stops for phonographe and consists of the matters herein described and mor pai-tieulai-iy pointed out in the appended claims.

The primary object of the ii'ivei'ition is to provide a simple and eilicient automatic device for stopping the rotation of the turntable after the full playing of the record, and this Without the necessity of manually setting the device before the playing of said record. I i

A further object er the invention is to provide an automatic stop device which is particularly adapted for use in connection with discrecords oi the kind wherein the last sound groove thereof terminates in an eccentricaliy disposed mute groove at the center of the record, which acts when reached by the stylus to cause the tone arm to oscillate liorizontaliy to actuate the braking. means for said turntable and stop the rotation thereof.

These objects of the invention as well as the many advantages thereoi will more frilly appear as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the motor board of a phonograph, with the turn-table and tone arm mounted thereon, a part of said motor board being shown as broken away to more clearly indicate the position of the parts embodied in my improved aut'o m ri r;

F'i re 2 is a detail v rtical section on an enlarged scale through the brakin art of my improved stop crevice, the lane or the i ction being indicated by the line e e of in. 1 p p v Figdre 3 is a viewsiinilar to Fi 2 with the parts thereof in a changed position;

Figflf/h is a horizontal lan sectional view of the parts of my improved stop device located below the motor board of the phonograph Figure 5- is a vertical detail sectional view as taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4-3;

Figure 6 is a view silinilar to Fig. 5 with the parts thereof in a changed position;

Figure 7 is detail sectional view as taken on the line 77 of Fig; 4:;

Figure 8- is another detail sectional view as taken on the line 8'8 of Fig. 4;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 with the parts in a changed relation;

Figure 10 is a perspective view oi an actuating lever and associated pawl, end. bodied in my improved stop mechanism.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment oi? my invention illustrated in the aecompanying drawings :=10 indicates the top wall or motor board of a phonograpln i1 dicates the turn-table, mounted upon the right driven shaft 12', and 13 indicates the tone arm of the phonograph. The tone arm is pivotally mounted at one end 14 in a col-- lar 15 fixed on the motor board to swing in a horizontal plane, and extends down through said board to communicate with the amplifying horn, located below the motor board in the manner well known. The free end or" said tone arm which overhangs the turn-table, is provided with the usual rerodiieer 16 which is adapted to carry a stylus 17. This stylus follows in the sound grooves 18 of a disc record 19 when applied to the turn-table 11. Said record as shown herein is: of the hind having an eccentrically disposed mute or non-playing groove 20 near its center, which communicates with the last or innermost sound groove 18 of the record and into which the stylus moves after leaving the said last sound groove.

A short distance below the motor board is located a base board 21 upon which the major portion of my improved stop device is mounted. 22 indicates a plate mounted on the base board and extending radially with respect to the turn-table driving shaft 12, and located within the peripheral plane of said turn-table. Arising from said plate is an upright flan e Q3 and spaced therefrom is a parallel rib 24, (see Fig. 4-). Said upright flange and said rib provide a guide in which a block 25 is s-iidabiet The block 25 has a shoulder 26 between its ends and adjacent said shonlder is a recess 27. A

The top arm 31 of said lever extends up through a slot- 32 provided in the motor board and in a plate 33-0n the top surface -tl 1ereof. Operatively connected to the arm 31 and slida'ble on the. plate 33, is a brake block 34 which carries arbrake shoe 35 oi leather, adapted to engage the inner surface of the peripheral flange of the turntable 11. On said plate 33 are spaced flanges or ribs 36, between which slides a trip bar 37. [This bar has a stem 38 arranged in a position beyond the turn-table so as to be easily actuated, as will more fully appear later. The trip bar 37 has a pin and slot connection 39 with the plate 33sothat it is capable of a limited longitudinal movementon said plate between the ribs 36 thereon. v

8 40 indicates a horizontally disposed lever which is pivoted at .41 to the upright flange 23. .The shortarm 42 of said lever has a tooth '43 which. is adapted to engage with the jshoulder 26 on the block as shown in Fig.v 2,1whilethe freeend of the long arm 44 of said lever is made concentric with the axis of the tone arm 1.3. A spring 45 connects the plate 23 and long arm 44 together so that the tooth on the short arm is normally urged into engagement with the shoulder 26 01: the block 25. A second spring 46. which connects the flange 23 and arm of the lever normallyacts to urge "the block 25 away from the tooth 43 and to ;move the brake shoe into engagement =W1tl1 the turn-table flange.

An arcuate plate 47 is fired to the base board 21, which plate is concentric with the axis ofithe tone arm 13. Said plate includes an upright web or flange 48 arranged adjas cent the curved part44 ofthe lever 40, and

bar 50.

the top edge of said flange extends parallel with the planeiof said plate, except near one end where it is increased in vertical. dimenslons to. providefaslightrise or hump 49.. 3 On the top 'surface'ot' theplate 47 and spaced, a short distance outwardly from the flange '48-is an arcuate ratchet toothed M To thatpart of the tone arm end 14 betweenthe motorboard and base board, is fixed a radial arm51 whichextends towards andter'minates' near. the flange48. A block '52 is pivoted on the arm ,51 by means of a screw Said block is cut away on-its underside to"provide spacedshoulders 54 which'engage opposite sides .of the arm 51 and limit its rotation or pivotal movement with respect to said arm. To this block 52 is pivoted one end of a lever '55 by means of a screw 56,so that said lever may swing "in a vertical plane.

.The other end'of said lever overhangs. the long arm 44 of the The st his 17 is next en 'a 'ed in lever 40 and is adapted to ride on the top edge of the flange 48, and to said end of the lever is pivoted a pawl. 57. Said pawl carries a tooth 58 at its free end to engage the ratchet teeth of the ratchet bar 50. On the lever 55, between its ends, is a laterally extending downwardly facing hook 59 which is adapted to hook over upon the end of the lever 51 connected to the tone arm as shown in Figure 8. In use, my improved stop operates as follows: Assume that a record having an eccentric mute groove 20, has been placed upon the turn-table which is now rotating. the usual manner with the starting sound groove of the record, the reproducer moving toward the center of the record in the playing there- ,As the arm 51 thus swings, the lever will through the block 52 move with it. As said lever which rides on the top edge of the flange 48 approaches the rise or hump 49 it is momentarily arrested so that the free end. of the arm more closely approaches it when the lever 55 will ride the hump and be slightly elevated thereby, so that the tip end of the arm 51 will move under the hook 59 which will now engage or hook over upon said arm end. lln the swinging movement of the tone arm and lever thus far the pawl. 57 will drag over the teeth of the ratchet bar 50. In the further movement of the tone arm, as the reproducer approaches the last active sound groove 18 the lever 55 is supported by the arm 51 in a position above the adjacent end 44 of the brake lever 40, by reason of the hooked connection between said lever 55 and arm '51 just above mentioned. When the stylus leaves the last sound groove at the center of the record, it will enter the mute groove 20 and will follow about said groove. By reason of the eccentricity of said mute groove, a short, sudden oscillation will be imparted to the tone arm in a direction opposite to that in which it has just been swinging. This will impart a like movement to the arm 51, which will act to swing away from under the hook 59 on the lever, said lever being locked against following or moving with the arm 51 in thisdirection because of the engagement of the pawl 57 and tooth 58 with one of the teeth on the ratchet bar 50. With the lever thus locked and the arm 51 When the lever arm 44 is depressed the short arm 42 willbe elevated, disengaging its tooth 43 from the shoulder 26 ofthe block 25, when the spring 46 will act to swin the lever 28 into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, wherein the block 3% has moved outwardh until the brake shoe 35 engages the flange of the turn-table and stops the rotation of the same. In the outward movement of the block 34, the plate 57 is also moved outwardly, as shown in Fig. 3.

When the arm 51 has been given the short, sudden swing or oscillation in the reverse direction and it is released from the lever 55 which ZIClJHkItBS the brake lever 40, as before mentioned, and because of the engagement oi the pawl 57 with the ratchet bar, a. change in angular relation or position occurs between" the arm 51 and lever 55 due to the pivotal connection 53 between the arm 51 and block 52 and between said block and the lever 55, with the result that the tooth 58 of the pawl slips laterally of? the rack '50 into the position'shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. When it is desired to play a new record, the tone arm is swung toward the periphery of the turn-table to clear the record just played, in the usual manner. As the pawl 5? is free from the ratchet bar 50 it in no manner interferes with this movement of the tone arm, but said tooth slides along the plate l7. A new record may be placed on the turn-table and the stem 38 is actuated to move the member 37 radially'inward. The inner end of said member will engage the bar 34 and will move the same and the brake shoe 35 away fromthe flange of the turn-table, which now again rotates. As the bar 34: thus moves, it will through the lever 28 shift the block as to the right, when the tooth 43 of the lever 40 will engagebehindthe shoulder 26 of the bloclr 25 and lock it in this position.

The tone arm is then swung inwardly so that the stylus may be'placed in the starting groove of the record, In this last mentioned movement of the tone arm, the normal angular relation between the lever and arm 51 is again established (due to the limited pivotal movement oi the block 52) so that as saidarm and lever move with the tone arm in the playing of the record the pawl swings into the plane of the ratchet bar so that the tooth 58 drags over said bar as before mentioned. When the lever 55 which slides over the edge of the flange as reaches the rise or hump thereon it momentarily stops and is elevated so the free end of the arm 51 engages under the hook 59 on said lever to again support the same when it clears said flange. When the stylus again reaches the eccentric groove, the arm 51 is released from under the hook on the lever 55, which, left unsupported, drops to engage the lever 10 and release the brake block which again through its shoe, stops the rotation of the turntable.

It is apparent that my improved stop mechanism'need not be manually set with reference to the last sound groove of the record, and this no matter how far or how near radially said last sound groove is from the center hole in said record, but will automatically stop the rotation of the turn-table when the eccentric groove 20 or its equivalent therein is reached. It comprises but a few parts, which are all concealed from the view of the observer. Said parts are easy and simple to assemble and install in a phonograph and can not readily get out of; order.

While I have referred to certain details of construction and arrangement of parts, I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a normally locked springpressed braking means, a horizontally swinging arm, a member adapted to be supported by and movable with said arm when swing ing in one direction, said arm being adapted when moved in the other direction to re lease said member supported thereby, and said member being adapted to then release said normally locked braking means.

2 In a device of the kind described, the combination of a normally locked springpressed braking means, including a lever for releasing the same, a horizontally swinging arm, a memberadaptcd to be supported by and movable with said arm when. swinging in one direction, said arm being adapted when moved in the other direction to: 112- lease said member supported thereby, and sa1d member being adapted to then engage the lever of said bralring'nieans for releasing the same.

3. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a normally locked springpressed braking means, a horizontally swing ing arm, a lever pivoted to said arm at a point between its ends so as to be capable of a limited independent movement in a horizontal plane and also a vertical movement, coacting means on the free ends of said arm and lover and providing a detachable supporting engagement for the lever with reference to said arm when said arm is moving in one direction, said coasting means on the free ends of said arm and lever being capable of detaching said lever from said arm when said arm is moved in the other direction, said lever when thus detached acting upon said normally locked braking means to release the same.

4:. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a normally locked springpressed braking means including a lever for ion releasing the same, a horizontally swinging arm, a lever pivoted to said arm so as to be capable of a limited independent movement with respect to said arm, said lever being supported by and movable with said armwhen moved in one direction, a ratchet plate, a pawl carried by said lever and dragging over said ratchet plate when said lever is carried 1n one d1rect1on by said arm, said pawl and ratchet plate holding said lever against mo-vement when saidarm swings in the other direction, so that said arm is released from said lever which is then free to swing vertically under its own weight to engage said lever for releasing said braking means.

5. In adevice of the kind described, the

" combination of a normallylocked springpressed braking means includinga lever for releasing the same, a horizontally swingingcarried by the .lever, a ratchet plate over which said pawl drags when said lever is moved in one direction by said arm, said pawl and ratchet plate holding said lever against movement with said arm when it moves in the other direction, so that said arm releases itself from the hooked connection-with said lever, said lever being then adapted to engage the lever of the braking means to release the same. a Z

6; In a device of the kind described, in

combination with a phonograph having a tone arm and a turntable adapted to re 1 ceive a disc record provided with an eccentric mute groove at its center, a springpressed brake shoe member adapted to en gage a part of'the turn-table, means for releasably holding saidbrake shoe member out of engagement with said turn-table, an

arm carried by the tone arm, and means assoclatedwlth said arm earned by the tone arm for actuating said brake shoe releaslng means, said mute groove-of the record acting through the tone arm and the arm carried thereby for causing said last mentioned means to release said brake shoe member holding means. p

7. In a device of the kind described, in combination with a phonograph having a tone arm and a turn-table adapted to receive a disc record provided with an eccentric mute groove at its center, a spring-pressed brake shoe member adapted to engage a. part of the turn-table, means for releasably holding said brake shoe member out of engage ment with said turn-table, an arm carried by the tone arm, and meansnormally supported by and movable with said arm carried by the tone arm for actuating said brake shoe releasing means, said mute groove of the record acting through the tone arm and the arm carengagement between said last mentioned means and its supporting arm so that said means will actuate and release said brake shoe member holding means.

.ried thereby for producing a relative dis- 8. In a device of the kind described, in

combination with a phonograph having a tone arm and a turn-table adapted to receive a disc record provided with an eccentric mute groove at its center, a springpressed brake shoe member adapted to engage a partof the turn-table, means for re leasably holding said brake shoe member out of engagement with saidvturn-table, an arm carried by the tone arm, a lever for actuating saidbrakev shoe member releasing means, pivoted at one'en'd to said arm between its ends and normally supported at its free end by the free end of said arm, said mute groove of the record acting through the tone arm and the arm carried thereby to release the free end of said lever which in turn acts to release said brake shoe member holding March, 1924.

HUGO F. SPENGLER. Witnesses:

T. H. Anrnnns, CLARENCE E. MEHLHOPE. 

